Kentucky bluegrass

ABSTRACT

A variety of Kentucky bluegrass having a high level of disease resistance, excellent turf performance in the sun and shade, and a good to medium level of seed yield potential.

BACKGROUND

Kentucky bluegrasses have been disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 3,156 which issued on May 9, 1972; U.S. Plant Pat. No. 3,186 which issued on May 23, 1972; U.S. Plant Pat. No. 4,336 which issued on Nov. 28, 1978; and U.S. Plant patent application, Ser. No. 872,537, filed June 10, 1986.

SUMMARY OF THE VARIETY

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of Poa pratensis which has been designated Ba 72-500 Kentucky bluegrass.

Ba 72-500 plant material originated by crossing a Kentucky bluegrass plant disclosed in U.S. plant application Ser. No. 872,537, the seed parent, with a pollen parent plant. As a result of this breeding, a distinct variety was produced and asexually propagated by rhizones, tillers and disseminules.

Ba 72-500 Kentucky bluegrass reproduced asexually by propagules, i.e., by tillers and rhizomes and by disseminules (modified caryopses produced by apomixis). Progeny plants have been produced which are indistinguishable from the mother plant.

Ba 72-500 has a number of highly desirable characteristics including a good level of resistance to Helminthosporium spp. that causes leaf spot, melting out, and crown rot; Ustilago striiformis that causes stripe smut; Erysiphe graminis that causes powdery mildew; and Puccinia spp. that causes rust; a leafy turf type growth habit; moderately wide leaf blades; an attractive green color which can be maintained throughout the entire growing season; good turf performance as evidenced by consistently high performance scores in tests throughout the U.S.A. and Canada, and a good-to-medium seed yield potential in the bluegrass seed production region of the U.S.A.

In comparison with its seed parent, the new variety is more shade tolerant and has better resistance to powdery mildew and rust.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a photograph of Ba 72-500 Kentucky bluegrass plant in the vegetative stage including the extensive root and rhizome system;

FIG. 2 is a photograph of Ba 72-500 Kentucky bluegrass panicle; and

FIG. 3 is a photograph of Ba 72-500 Kentucky bluegrass seed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY

Ba 72-500 Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) is perennial with creeping rhizomes forming a moderately dense turf. When plants winter in the field with freezing temperatures and then are brought into the greenhouse during late winter to continue growth undisturbed by clipping under moderate temperatures (60°-80° F.), culms are erect averaging 439 mm tall with an average of 2.7 nodes per culm. The uppermost internode averages 9.8 cm, and the peduncle averages 12.9 cm in length and 0.660 mm in thickness. The flag leaf averages 4.1 cm in length, 3.2 mm in width, and 0.112 mm in thickness. The panicle is nodding with an average length of 6.8 cm, width of 3.8 cm, and 5.0 whorls. The lowest whorl has an average of 4.0 branches and the third whorl from the bottom of the panicle has an average of 2.4 branches. The average spikelet at the tip of a branch in the lowest whorl is 5.1 mm in length and has 4.2 florets with an outer glume of 3.1 mm in length and an inner glume of 3.4 mm in length. A similar spikelet from the third whorl from the bottom is 5.0 mm in length and has 3.9 florets with an outer glume of 3.1 mm in length and an inner glume of 3.4 mm in length. After the seed has been conditioned, the lemma has a rough keel with occasional long, fine hairs at the base. The seed of Ba 72-500 is 2.77 mm in length and 0.80 mm in width with approximately 1,300,105 seeds per pound. Comparisons of Ba 72-500 and other bluegrasses for seed measurements and seed counts per pound are found in Tables 1 and 2.

                  TABLE 1                                                          ______________________________________                                         Seed Measurements of Ba 72-500 and Other Bluegrass Varieties                   After Conditioning.                                                                            Length  Width                                                  Variety         (mm)    (mm)                                                   ______________________________________                                         Ba 72-500       2.77    0.80                                                   Baron           3.07    0.86                                                   Bristol         2.73    0.80                                                   Nassau          2.96    0.78                                                   Newport         2.76    0.71                                                   Park            3.04    0.72                                                   Ram I           3.51    0.84                                                   Victa           3.20    0.86                                                   LSD (.05)       0.19    0.06                                                   ______________________________________                                    

                  TABLE 2                                                          ______________________________________                                         Seed Counts Per Pound of Ba 72-500 and Other Bluegrass Varieties               After Conditioning                                                                         Number of Seeds                                                                Per Pound                                                          ______________________________________                                         Ba 72-500     1,300,105                                                        Adelphi       1,383,976                                                        America       1,659,824                                                        Gnome         1,017,641                                                        Baron         1,051,693                                                        Birka         1,223,530                                                        Bonnieblue    1,135,303                                                        Bristol       1,270,821                                                        Classic       1,250,316                                                        Eclipse       1,335,668                                                        Georgetown    1,232,913                                                        Glade         1,108,441                                                        Kenblue       1,463,923                                                        Merit         1,109,728                                                        Nassau        1,127,130                                                        Newport       1,226,481                                                        Park          1,248,349                                                        Sydsport      1,355,644                                                        Vantage       1,555,303                                                        Victa         1,038,298                                                        ______________________________________                                    

Since environmental conditions such as soil and climate influence morphological characteristics to some extent, comparisons of morphological characteristics of Ba 72-500 are made with other Kentucky bluegrass varieties in Tables 3-7.

                  TABLE 3                                                          ______________________________________                                         Morphological Comparisons of Ba 72-500 and Other Bluegrass -Varieties          Grown as Unmowed Spaced Plants in the Field at                                 Marysville, Ohio.                                                              Mature Plant   Leaf        Panicle  Seedhead                                   Height (cm)    Blade Width Density  Weight                                     2 Year         2 Year      2 Year   2 Year                                     Mean           Mean        Mean     Mean                                       ______________________________________                                         Ba 72-500                                                                              46         2.4         6      335                                      Nugget  36         2.0         5      225                                      Glade   53         2.2         7      314                                      Vantage 67         2.5         6      786                                      Adelphi 53         2.3         6      396                                      Park    55         2.2         6      361                                      Bristol 55         2.3         7      385                                      Parade  53         2.5         5      372                                      A-34    65         2.1         8      384                                      Kenblue 63         2.4         6      498                                      Victa   46         3.0         7      442                                      Merion  49         2.2         7      191                                      LSD (.05)                                                                              18         0.7         2      427                                      ______________________________________                                          Ratings:                                                                       Leaf Blade Width: 1-4, 4 = wide blades                                         Panicle Density: 0-9, 9 = very high panicle density                            Seedhead Weight: Weight (mg) of three panicles                           

                  TABLE 4                                                          ______________________________________                                         Morphological Comparison of Panicles of Ba 72-500 and Other                    Bluegrass Varieties in the Greenhouse at Marysville, Ohio.                     ______________________________________                                                           Panicle    Panicle                                                                              Number of                                            Panicle  Length     Width Whorls                                      Variety  Nodding* (cm)       (cm)  Per Panicle                                 ______________________________________                                         Ba 72-500                                                                               2.0      6.8        3.8   5.0                                         Baron    1.0      7.8        4.1   5.2                                         Bristol  2.0      9.7        5.0   5.0                                         Nassau   2.0      10.0       6.0   5.0                                         Newport  2.0      10.3       4.4   4.5                                         Park     1.6      9.0        3.7   4.0                                         Ram I    2.0      9.0        4.7   4.0                                         Victa    1.2      7.5        4.1   5.4                                         LSD (.05)                                                                               0.5      1.6        1.0   0.8                                         ______________________________________                                                                Peduncle Peduncle                                       Number of Branches     Length   Width                                          Variety Lower Whorl                                                                               Third Whorl (cm)   (mm)                                     ______________________________________                                         Ba 72-500                                                                              4.0        2.4         12.9   0.660                                    Baron   3.8        2.5         12.7   0.559                                    Bristol 3.3        2.7         15.0   0.686                                    Nassau  3.0        2.0         8.0    0.533                                    Newport 2.3        2.3         18.0   0.558                                    Park    4.3        3.7         14.3   0.787                                    Ram I   2.5        2.0         18.5   0.610                                    Victa   4.4        3.4         12.2   0.711                                    LSD (.05)                                                                              0.7        0.8         3.7    0.018                                    ______________________________________                                          *Panicle nodding rated 1 = erect, 2 = nodding.                           

                  TABLE 5                                                          ______________________________________                                         Morphological Comparison of Culms and Flag Leaves of Ba                        72-500 and Other Bluegrass Varieties in the Greenhouse at                      Marysville, Ohio.                                                              ______________________________________                                                   Flag Leaf    Flag Leaf Flag Leaf                                               Length       Width     Thickness                                     Variety   (cm)         (mm)      (mm)                                          ______________________________________                                         Ba 72-500 4.1          3.2       0.112                                         Baron     4.5          3.2       0.119                                         Bristol   5.5          3.4       0.127                                         Nassau    6.2          3.1       0.127                                         Newport   6.1          3.5       0.135                                         Park      4.2          2.6       0.109                                         Ram I     4.7          3.1       0.127                                         Victa     5.9          4.0       0.124                                         LSD (.05) 1.8          0.6       0.013                                         ______________________________________                                                   Top                                                                            Internode    Culm    Number of                                                 Length       Length  Nodes Per                                       Variety   (cm)         (mm)    Culm                                            ______________________________________                                         Ba 72-500  9.8         439     2.7                                             Baron     10.1         482     2.5                                             Bristol   11.3         522     2.7                                             Nassau    11.2         450     2.5                                             Newport   11.2         547     2.3                                             Park      13.0         578     3.0                                             Ram I     10.2         527     3.0                                             Victa     10.6         474     2.4                                             LSD (.05)  2.1          79     0.6                                             ______________________________________                                    

                  TABLE 6                                                          ______________________________________                                         Morphological Comparison of Spikelets and Florets of Ba                        72-500 and Other Bluegrass Varieties in the Greenhouse at                      Marysville, Ohio.                                                              ______________________________________                                                  Spikelet    Number of Florets                                                  Length (mm) per Spikelet                                                         Lowest  Third     Lowest Third                                      Variety    Whorl   Whorl     Whorl  Whorl                                      ______________________________________                                         Ba 72-500  5.1     5.0       4.2    3.9                                        Baron      5.0     5.0       3.7    3.8                                        Bristol    6.2     6.0       5.7    5.3                                        Nassau     4.6     4.6       4.5    4.5                                        Newport    5.3     5.2       5.2    5.2                                        Park       6.5     6.7       5.2    4.7                                        Ram I      4.7     5.2       5.2    5.5                                        Victa      5.2     5.0       3.8    3.8                                        LSD (.05)  0.9     0.8       1.1    1.0                                        ______________________________________                                                  Glume Length (mm)                                                              Outer        Inner                                                               Lowest  Third      Lowest                                                                               Third                                      Variety    Whorl   Whorl      Whorl Whorl                                      ______________________________________                                         Ba 72-500  3.1     3.1        3.4   3.4                                        Baron      2.9     2.8        3.4   3.3                                        Bristol    3.4     3.3        3.7   3.9                                        Nassau     2.3     2.4        2.7   2.7                                        Newport    2.6     2.5        2.9   2.9                                        Park       3.0     3.2        3.5   3.7                                        Ram I      2.6     2.4        2.9   2.7                                        Victa      2.8     3.0        3.3   3.3                                        LSD (.05)  0.5     0.4        0.4   0.4                                        ______________________________________                                    

                  TABLE 7                                                          ______________________________________                                         Morphological Comparison of Leaves of Ba 72-500 and Other                      Bluegrass Varieties in the Greenhouse at Marysville, Ohio.                                                       Leaf                                                  Ligule   Leaf     Leaf   Angle                                                 Length   Length   Width  (Degrees                                     Variety  (mm)     (mm)     (mm)   From Horizontal)                             ______________________________________                                         Ba 72-500                                                                               0.25     204      4.1    50                                           Baron    0.30     313      4.4    63                                           Bristol  0.30     253      4.3    37                                           Nassau   0.22     226      3.5    39                                           Newport  0.22     251      4.1    50                                           Park     0.33     329      4.2    44                                           Ram I    0.18     188      3.7    40                                           Victa    0.28     235      4.3    52                                           LSD (.05)                                                                               0.11      49      0.6    10                                           ______________________________________                                                   Hairs.sup.a Around                                                             Ligule on                                                                      Upper Surface Hairs.sup.a on                                                                            Hairs.sup.b on                              Variety   of the Leaf   Collar     Ligule                                      ______________________________________                                         Ba 72-500 1.0           3.5        2.7                                         Baron     1.0           5.0        4.0                                         Bristol   1.3           4.7        4.3                                         Nassau    2.7           5.0        1.0                                         Newport   1.0           4.0        0.8                                         Park      1.0           1.7        0.0                                         Ram I     1.0           3.7        0.3                                         Victa     1.0           3.3        2.2                                         LSD (.05) 0.3           1.4        1.8                                         ______________________________________                                          .sup.a Hairs around ligule and on collar rated 1-5: 1 = none, 5 = many.        .sup.b Hairs on ligule rated 0-5: 0 = none, 5 = many.                    

Ba 72-500 has performed very well throughout the U.S.A. and Canada as exhibited by high turf quality ratings in ten different locations as the comparisons show in Table 8.

                  TABLE 8                                                          ______________________________________                                         Comparison of the Turf Quality of Ba 72-500 and Other                          Bluegrass Varieties in the U.S.A. and Canada                                   ______________________________________                                                  St. Louis Guelph    Winnipeg                                                                               Beltsville                                         Missouri  Ontario   Manitoba                                                                               Maryland                                           1 Year    2 Year    2 Year  1 Year                                    Variety  Mean      Mean      Mean    Mean                                      ______________________________________                                         Ba 72-500                                                                               3.2       7.7       6.9     5.8                                       A-34                         6.6     5.6                                       Adelphi  2.9                         5.9                                       Admiral                      6.0                                               America  2.8                                                                   Aquila                       7.1                                               Banff                                4.8                                       Baron    2.7                 6.2     5.3                                       Birka    2.3                                                                   Bonnieblue                           5.0                                       Bono                                                                           Bristol  2.7                         5.0                                       Columbia                             4.9                                       Eclipse                              5.9                                       Enmundi                              5.5                                       Fylking                              4.9                                       Geary                                                                          Geronimo                                                                       Glade    2.8                         5.3                                       Gnome    2.9       7.0                                                         Kenolue                                                                        Merion             6.7               5.3                                       Merit    2.8                 6.5     6.1                                       Midnight                             5.5                                       Monopoly                             4.9                                       Mystic                       6.6                                               Nassau                       5.9     4.5                                       Newport                                                                        Nugget                       7.1                                               Parade                               5.0                                       Park     1.8       6.7                                                         Ram I                                4.6                                       SO Common                                                                      Shasta             6.7       7.1                                               Sydsport 2.7                         5.8                                       Touchdown                                                                               2.7                 6.8     5.8                                       Trampas                      6.3                                               Vantage  2.6                         5.5                                       Victa    2.8                         5.5                                       Wabash                                                                         ______________________________________                                                  Adelphia    Lincoln  Agassiz                                                   New Jersey  Nebraska British Columbia                                          2 Year      2 Year   1 Year                                           Variety  Mean        Mean     Mean                                             ______________________________________                                         Ba 72-500                                                                               6.1         6.0      5.4                                              A-34                 6.2                                                       Adelphi  6.4         6.1                                                       Admiral                                                                        America                                                                        Aquila   5.7                                                                   Banff                                                                          Baron    6.4         5.6                                                       Birka    5.9         5.9                                                       Bonnieblue                                                                              6.7         5.8                                                       Bono                          5.2                                              Bristol  6.5         5.9      6.1                                              Columbia 5.9                                                                   Eclipse  7.2         5.8                                                       Enmundi  6.3         5.9                                                       Fylking  5.7         6.1                                                       Geary    3.6                                                                   Geronimo                      5.1                                              Glade    6.7         6.4                                                       Gnome    6.4                                                                   Kenolue  3.3                                                                   Merion   6.0         5.9      5.3                                              Merit    6.2         6.0      4.9                                              Midnight 7.3         5.9                                                       Monopoly 5.7                                                                   Mystic                                                                         Nassau   5.9                                                                   Newport                                                                        Nugget                                                                         Parade   5.6         6.5                                                       Park                 5.7                                                       Ram I    6.2         5.9                                                       SO Common                                                                               3.2                                                                   Shasta   5.7                                                                   Sydsport 6.0         6.3                                                       Touchdown                                                                               6.1         5.9                                                       Trampas                       5.7                                              Vantage  3.6         5.8                                                       Victa    6.5         5.7                                                       Wabash   4.8                                                                   ______________________________________                                                  Gervais    Marysville                                                                               Prince Frederick                                          Oregon     Ohio      Maryland                                                  3 Year     5 Year    4 Year                                           Variety  Mean       Mean      Mean                                             ______________________________________                                         Ba 72-500                                                                               2.8        2.8       2.3                                              A-34                                                                           Adelphi  2.4        2.7       1.9                                              Admiral                                                                        America  2.5                                                                   Aquila                                                                         Banff                                                                          Baron                                                                          Birka                                                                          Bonnieblue                                                                     Bono                                                                           Bristol  2.8        2.7       2.1                                              Columbia                                                                       Eclipse                                                                        Enmundi                                                                        Fylking                                                                        Geary                                                                          Geronimo                                                                       Glade    2.5                  1.8                                              Gnome    2.3                                                                   Kenolue  1.4                                                                   Merion                                                                         Merit    2.4                  1.9                                              Midnight                                                                       Monopoly                                                                       Mystic                                                                         Nassau                                                                         Newport             1.4                                                        Nugget                                                                         Parade              2.7                                                        Park                2.1       1.7                                              Ram I                                                                          SO Common                                                                      Shasta                                                                         Sydsport                                                                       Touchdown                                                                      Trampas                                                                        Vantage             2.6       1.8                                              Victa    2.2        2.6       2.1                                              Wabash                                                                         ______________________________________                                          Rating Scale: Larger number indicates higher quality.                    

Good turf performance under shady conditions is an important characteristic for broad, general usage of a bluegrass variety. Ba 72-500 performs very well under shady conditions as seen from the comparative test results in Tables 9 and 10.

                  TABLE 9                                                          ______________________________________                                         Turf Performance Ratings Under Natural Shade of Ba 72-500 and                  Other Bluegrass Varieties at Marysville, Ohio.                                                                        4 Yr                                           Year 1                                                                               Year 2    Year 3  Year 4  Mean                                    ______________________________________                                         Ba 72-500                                                                               2.1     2.3       2.5   2.5     2.4                                   Merion   1.8     1.6       2.0   1.8     1.8                                   Fylking  1.8     1.9       1.9   2.0     1.9                                   A-34     2.0     2.2       2.6   2.7     2.4                                   Park     1.7     1.8       1.9   2.0     1.9                                   Newport  1.9     1.7       1.9   2.1     1.9                                   Bristol  1.8     2.1       2.2   1.8     2.0                                   Enmundi  2.0     2.0       2.2   2.5     2.2                                   Bonnieblue                                                                              2.0     1.7       2.0   1.7     1.9                                   Touchdown                                                                               1.8     2.1       2.1   1.7     1.9                                   Aquila   1.8     1.7       1.7   2.1     1.8                                   Parade   1.8     2.0       2.2   1.8     2.0                                   Victa    2.0     1.5       1.8   2.0     1.8                                   LSD (.05)        .46             .47                                           ______________________________________                                          Rated 1-4, 4 = Best                                                      

                  TABLE 10                                                         ______________________________________                                         Turf Performance Ratings Under Natural Shade of Ba 72-500                      and Other Bluegrass Varieties at Gervais, Oregon.                              ______________________________________                                         Quality                                                                        Year 1                Year 2                                                           June   Aug.   Oct.  Mean  Feb. Sept  Mean                              ______________________________________                                         Ba 72-500                                                                              2.8    2.8    3.3   3.0   3.3  3.0   3.2                               Bristol 2.5    2.8    2.3   2.6   3.0  1.7   2.4                               Gnome   3.5    1.0    1.0   1.8   1.0  0.5   .8                                Victa   2.8    1.8    1.7   2.1   2.0  1.8   1.9                               LSD (.05)                                                                              .97    .97    .63         .95  .96                                     ______________________________________                                                            Quality                                                                          Year 3  Year 4  4 Yr                                                           Feb.    May     Mean                                      ______________________________________                                                       Ba 72-500                                                                             2.2     2.2     2.7                                                     Bristol                                                                               2.0     2.3     2.3                                                     Gnome  1.3     2.3     1.6                                                     Victa  1.8     1.0     1.7                                                     LSD (.05)                                                                             .83     .80                                               ______________________________________                                          Rated 1-4, 4 = Best                                                      

The new variety has a pleasant medium green color which can be maintained throughout the growing season and widely scattered locations in the U.S.A. and Canada as shown by the comparative test results in Table 11.

                  TABLE 11                                                         ______________________________________                                         Comparison of Turf Color of Ba 72-500 and Other Bluegrass Varieties            at Various Locations in the U.S.A. and Canada.                                 ______________________________________                                                 St. Louis Truro       Winnipeg                                                                              Lincoln                                           Missouri  Nova Scotia Manitoba                                                                              Nebraska                                          1 Year    1 Year      1 Year 2 Year                                    Variety Mean      Mean        Mean   Mean                                      ______________________________________                                         Ba 72-500                                                                              9.4       7.1         7.0    7.0                                       A-34                          6.3    6.5                                       Adelphi 9.4                          7.2                                       America 9.4                          7.0                                       Aquila                        7.3    6.7                                       Baron   9.2                   7.3    6.9                                       Birka   9.1                          6.7                                       Bonnieblue                           7.0                                       Bono    9.0                                                                    Bristol 9.5                          7.3                                       Eclipse                              7.0                                       Enmundi                              7.0                                       Fylking                              6.8                                       Geronimo                                                                       Glade   9.3                          7.1                                       Gnome   9.3       7.5                                                          Kenblue                                                                        Merion                               6.9                                       Merit   9.2                   7.2    7.0                                       Midnight                      8.1    7.9                                       Mystic                        6.5                                              Nassau                        7.2                                              Newport                                                                        Nugget                        7.3                                              Parade                               6.8                                       Park    9.0                          6.1                                       Ram I                                7.3                                       Rugby                                6.8                                       Shasta                        7.2                                              Sydsport                                                                               9.2                          7.0                                       Touchdown                                                                              9.0                   6.6    6.8                                       Trampas           6.9                                                          Vantage 9.2                          6.8                                       Victa   9.2       7.5                6.9                                       ______________________________________                                                                       Marys- Prince                                            Agassiz      Gervais  ville  Frederick                                         British Columbia                                                                            Oregon   Ohio   Maryland                                          1 Year       3 Year   2 Year 3 Year                                    Variety Mean         Mean     Mean   Mean                                      ______________________________________                                         Ba 72-500                                                                              5.5          7.2      8.1    7.7                                       A-34                                                                           Adelphi              7.6      8.4    7.4                                       America              7.6      8.5                                              Aquila                                                                         Baron                         8.5                                              Birka                         8.1                                              Bonnieblue                                                                     Bono    6.0                                                                    Bristol 7.0          9.3      8.9    8.3                                       Eclipse                       8.5                                              Enmundi                                                                        Fylking                                                                        Geronimo                                                                               5.8                                                                    Glade                8.3      8.4    8.0                                       Gnome                7.4      8.1                                              Kenblue              6.6      8.1                                              Merion  5.7                                                                    Merit   6.5          7.4             7.4                                       Midnight                      8.9                                              Mystic                                                                         Nassau                                                                         Newport              7.5                                                       Nugget                                                                         Parade                                                                         Park                          8.1    6.8                                       Ram I                                                                          Rugby                                                                          Shasta                                                                         Sydsport                      8.2                                              Touchdown                     8.1                                              Trampas                                                                        Vantage                       8.5    6.8                                       Victa                7.1      8.4    7.6                                       ______________________________________                                          Rating Scale: Larger number indicates darker green color.                

Resistance to common turf diseases is important for consistent performance throughout the year and among locations. Comparisons of resistance to leaf spot (also known as melting out and crown rot) caused by the fungus Helminthosporium vagans are presented in Table 12.

                  TABLE 12                                                         ______________________________________                                         Comparison of Leafspot Disease Incidence on Ba 72-500 and                      Other Bluegrasses at Several Locations in the U.S.A. and                       ______________________________________                                         Canada.                                                                                                              Agassiz.sup.c                                    St. Louis.sup.a                                                                           Beltsville.sup.b                                                                         Adelphia.sup.b                                                                          British                                          Missouri   Maryland  New Jersey                                                                              Columbia                                         1 Year     1 Year    1 Year   1 Year                                   Variety Mean       Mean      Mean     Mean                                     ______________________________________                                         Ba 72-500                                                                              3          7.7       7.0      3.0                                      A-34               5.3       4.3                                               Adelphi 2          8.0       5.7                                               America 8                                                                      Aquila                       6.3                                               Banff              5.3       7.0                                               Baron   2          7.0       8.7                                               Birka   5                    6.3                                               Bonnieblue                   7.0                                               Bono    7                             3.0                                      Bristol 2          7.0       8.3      2.3                                      Columbia           5.7       6.3                                               Eclipse            7.7       9.0                                               Enmundi            7.0                                                         Fylking            6.7       6.3                                               Geary                        2.0                                               Geronimo                              4.7                                      Glade   2          7.3       6.3                                               Gnome   2          7.0       8.0                                               Kenblue            3.3       1.7                                               Merion             6.3       7.7      3.0                                      Merit   3          7.3       7.7      3.7                                      Midnight           7.0       7.0                                               Monopoly           5.3       6.0                                               Nassau             7.7       7.4                                               Newport                                                                        Parade             6.0       5.0                                               Park    52                                                                     Ram I              6.5       7.0                                               Rugby                        5.0                                               Shasta                       6.0                                               Sydsport                                                                               3          7.3       6.3                                               Touchdown                                                                              7          7.7                                                         Trenton                      6.0                                               Vantage 7          5.0       2.0                                               Victa   2          8.0       7.0                                               Wabash                       2.0                                               LSD (.05)                                                                              7                    1.9                                               ______________________________________                                                 Gervais.sup.a                                                                           Marysville.sup.a                                                                          Accokeek.sup.a                                                                         Marysville.sup.a                                   Oregon   Ohio       Maryland                                                                               Ohio (Shade)                                       3 Year   5 Year     2 Year  1 Year                                     Variety Mean     Mean       Mean    Mean                                       ______________________________________                                         Ba 72-500                                                                              21       4           1      0                                          A-34                                                                           Adelphi 46       9                                                             America 29                          0                                          Aquila                                                                         Banff                                                                          Baron                                                                          Birka                               0                                          Bonnieblue                                                                     Bono                                                                           Bristol  8       5                  2                                          Columbia                                                                       Eclipse                                                                        Enmundi                                                                        Fylking                                                                        Geary                                                                          Geronimo                                                                       Glade   46                          0                                          Gnome   76                          0                                          Kenblue 75                          67                                         Merion                                                                         Merit   65                                                                     Midnight                                                                       Monopoly                                                                       Nassau                                                                         Newport 45                                                                     Parade           10                                                            Park             54                                                            Ram I                                                                          Rugby                                                                          Shasta                                                                         Sydsport                                                                               --                                                                     Touchdown                           0                                          Trenton                                                                        Vantage          15         30                                                 Victa   70       7          12      0                                          Wabash                                                                         LSD (.05)                                                                              15       5          10      4                                          ______________________________________                                          Ratings                                                                        .sup.a % of turf affected by disease                                           .sup.b 1-9, 9 = least disease                                                  .sup.c 1-9, 9 = most disease                                             

Comparisons of resistance to powdery milkdew caused by Erysiphe graminis, rust caused by Puccinia spp., dollarspot caused by Sclerotina homeocarpa, stripe smut caused by Ustilago striiformis, and red thread caused by Corticium fuciform are presented in Tables 13-18.

                  TABLE 13                                                         ______________________________________                                         Comparison of Stem Rust (Puccinia graminis) Disease lncidence                  on Ba 72-500 and Other Bluegrasses at Adelphia, New Jersey                                   Test 1                                                                               Test 2                                                     ______________________________________                                         Ba 72-500       7.2     7.7                                                    Midnight        7.0     7.8                                                    Columbia        6.7     7.8                                                    Banff           6.5     7.7                                                    Bristol         7.7     7.7                                                    Parade          6.2     7.5                                                    Monopoly        7.1     7.4                                                    Ram I           7.0     7.3                                                    Victa           5.6     7.2                                                    Merit           5.7     7.0                                                    Baron           6.4     7.0                                                    Nassau          6.8     7.0                                                    Eclipse         4.7     7.0                                                    Aquila          6.9     7.0                                                    Bonnieblue      5.4     7.0                                                    Adelphi         7.1     6.9                                                    America         7.4     6.9                                                    Vantage         6.2     5.9                                                    Touchdown       3.5     5.7                                                    Birka           3.5     5.6                                                    Merion          2.4     3.6                                                    LSD (.05)       0.9     1.0                                                    ______________________________________                                          Rated 1-9, 9 = No Disease                                                

                  TABLE 14                                                         ______________________________________                                         Comparison of Rust (Puccinia spp.) Disease Incidence on Ba                     72-500 and Other Bluegrasses.                                                         Turf       Unmowed Spaced Plants                                               Location                                                                       Aggasiz.sup.a                                                                             Gervais.sup.b                                                                             Marysville.sup.b                                         British Columbia                                                                          Oregon     Ohio                                                     Rating Years                                                            Variety  2 Year Mean  1 Year Mean                                                                               1 Year Mean                                   ______________________________________                                         Ba 72-500                                                                               1.3           1         17                                            A-34                             10                                            Adelphi               23         10                                            America                9                                                       Bono     2.1                                                                   Bristol  1.2           6          9                                            Geronimo 1.5                                                                   Glade                  4         13                                            Gnome                 13                                                       Kenblue               30         24                                            Merion   2.8                     33                                            Merit    2.9           8                                                       Newport               23                                                       Nugget                           13                                            Parade                            7                                            Park                             32                                            Vantage                          43                                            Victa                  9         18                                            LSD (.05)             12         16                                            ______________________________________                                          .sup.a Rated 1-9, 9 = most disease                                             .sup.b Rated as % of disease incidence                                   

                  TABLE 15                                                         ______________________________________                                         Comparison of Dollarspot Disease Incidence on Ba 72-500 and                    Other Bluegrasses.                                                                          Prince Frederick                                                                            Marysville                                           Variety      Maryland     Ohio                                                 ______________________________________                                         Ba 72-500    24           47                                                   Adelphi      8            20                                                   America                   13                                                   Baron        50           23                                                   Birka        6            47                                                   Bonnieblue   10                                                                Bono         4            63                                                   Bristol      6            17                                                   Columbia     10                                                                Eclipse                    8                                                   Glade                     40                                                   Gnome                     22                                                   Kenblue      8            37                                                   Merit        4                                                                 Midnight     6                                                                 Park                      33                                                   Ram I        40                                                                Rugby        12                                                                Sydsport                  43                                                   Touchdown                 50                                                   Trenton      28                                                                Vantage      11           15                                                   Victa        5            23                                                   Wabash       11                                                                LSD (.05)    19           24                                                   ______________________________________                                          Rating: % of turf that is affected by disease.                           

                  TABLE 16                                                         ______________________________________                                         Comparison of Stripe Smut Disease Incidence on Ba 72-500 and                   Other Bluegrasses.                                                                         Prince Frederick                                                                            Accokeek                                                          Maryland     Maryland                                              Variety     3 Year Mean  2 Year Mean                                           ______________________________________                                         Ba 72-500   0            2                                                     Bristol     7                                                                  Mosa        23                                                                 Vantage                  3                                                     Victa                    9                                                     LSD (.05)   16           9                                                     ______________________________________                                          Rating: % of turf affected by disease.                                   

                  TABLE 17                                                         ______________________________________                                         Comparison of Red Thread Disease Incidence on Ba 72-500 and                    Other Bluegrasses at Gervais, Oregon                                                  Red Thread                                                              ______________________________________                                                Ba 72-500                                                                              0                                                                      Victa   10                                                                     Bristol 0                                                                      Glade   15                                                                     Adelphi 0                                                                      Kenblue 23                                                                     Newport 3                                                                      America 2                                                                      Merit   7                                                                      Gnome   0                                                                      LSD (.05)                                                                              13                                                              ______________________________________                                          Rating: % of turf affected by disease.                                   

                  TABLE 18                                                         ______________________________________                                         Comparison of Powdery Mildew Disease Incidence on Ba 72-500 and Other          Bluegrasses.                                                                   ______________________________________                                                Greenhouse.sup.a                                                                         Natural Shade.sup.b                                                  Adelphia  Gervais   Marysville                                                 New Jersey                                                                               Oregon    Ohio                                                         1 Year      1 Year    3 Year 2 Year                                   Variety  Mean        Mean      Mean   Mean                                     ______________________________________                                         Ba 72-500                                                                               5.4          3         3     0                                        A-34     4.5                                                                   Adelphi  0.8                                                                   America  6.7                          7                                        Aquila   8.7                                                                   Banff    0.4                   15                                              Baron    1.4                                                                   Birka    5.7                          2                                        Bonnieblue                                                                              0.8                                                                   Bristol  6.4          3        10     1                                        Columbia 0.5                                                                   Eclipse  6.9                          3                                        Enmundi  6.9                                                                   Fylking  1.3                                                                   Geronimo                              40                                       Glade    7.0                   37     21                                       Gnome    1.7         78               61                                       Kenblue                               2                                        Kimono   0.9                                                                   Majestic 0.9                                                                   Merion   0.9                                                                   Merit    2.3                                                                   Midnight 0.7                                                                   Monopoly 5.9                    2                                              Mosa                                                                           Mystic   8.3                                                                   Newport                        33                                              Nugget   7.0                                                                   Parade   2.2                                                                   Ram I    7.2                                                                   Rugby    0.6                   15                                              Shasta   0.7                                                                   Sydsport 6.1                                                                   Touchdown                             0                                        Vantage  5.0                                                                   Victa    1.9         35        47     52                                       LSD (.05)                                                                               0.8         21        16     6                                        ______________________________________                                                                 Spaced Plants - Sun.sup.b                                         Prince Frederick                                                                            Marysville                                                        Maryland     Ohio                                                              1 Year       2 Year                                                 Variety    Mean         Mean                                                   ______________________________________                                         Ba 72-500   0            0                                                     A-34        2           15                                                     Adelphi    12           23                                                     America                                                                        Aquila                                                                         Banff                                                                          Baron                                                                          Birka                                                                          Bonnieblue                                                                     Bristol     1            0                                                     Columbia                                                                       Eclipse                                                                        Enmundi                                                                        Fylking                                                                        Geronimo                                                                       Glade      57           23                                                     Gnome                                                                          Kenblue                 10                                                     Kimono                                                                         Majestic                                                                       Merion                   5                                                     Merit                                                                          Midnight                                                                       Monopoly                                                                       Mosa       58                                                                  Mystic                                                                         Newport                                                                        Nugget                   3                                                     Parade                   0                                                     Ram I                                                                          Rugby                                                                          Shasta     --                                                                  Sydsport                                                                       Touchdown                                                                      Vantage                 34                                                     Victa                   13                                                     LSD (.05)  25           12                                                     ______________________________________                                          .sup.a Rated 0-9, 9 = least disease                                            .sup.b Rated as % of turf affected by disease                            

Ba 72-500 has the ability to tolerate heat and drought stress as illustrated in Table 19.

                  TABLE 19                                                         ______________________________________                                         Comparison of Drought and Heat Tolerance of Ba 72-500 and                      Other Bluegrasses in Prince Frederick, Maryland.                                      Test 1        Test 2     Test 3                                         Variety                                                                               4 Year Mean   1 Year Mean                                                                               3 Year Mean                                    ______________________________________                                         Ba 72-500                                                                             20             0         27                                             Adelphi                         36                                             Bristol                                                                               31                       36                                             Glade                           49                                             Merit                           43                                             Mosa   27                                                                      Park                            39                                             Vantage              50         39                                             Victa                50         30                                             LSD (.05)                                                                             12            24         22                                             ______________________________________                                          Rated as % brown turf due to drought and heat stress.                    

The low growth habit and slower vertical growth rate of Ba 72-500 indicates that it should withstand low mowing heights as well as possibly decrease the total number of mowings per year under favorable enviromental conditions, especially in comparison to the common type varieties of Kenblue, Newport, and Park as presented in Table 20.

                  TABLE 20                                                         ______________________________________                                         Comparison of Growth Habit of Ba 72-500 and Other Bluegrasses at               Marysville, Ohio.                                                                       Test 1      Test 2      Test 3                                        Variety  1 Year Mean.sup.a                                                                          2 Year Mean.sup.b                                                                          3 Year Mean.sup.b                             ______________________________________                                         Ba 72-500                                                                               2.0         1.4         66                                            Adelphi  2.0         2.4                                                       America  1.8                                                                   Baron    1.8                                                                   Birka    2.0                                                                   Bono     2.0                                                                   Bristol  2.0         2.0         74                                            Eclipse  2.0                                                                   Fylking                          93                                            Glade    2.2                                                                   Gnome    2.0                                                                   Kenblue  2.9                     96                                            Merion                           78                                            Merit                            84                                            Newport                          100                                           Parade               2.2                                                       Park     2.9         2.2                                                       Sydsport 1.9                     72                                            Touchdown                                                                               2.0                                                                   Vantage  2.7         2.0         84                                            Victa    1.9         2.0         77                                            LSD (.05)                                                                               0.3         0.5         12                                            ______________________________________                                          .sup.a Rated 1-5, 5 = high growth, 1 = dwarf.                                  .sup.b Rated as height (mm) of turf about one week after last mowing.    

The leaf texture of Ba 72-500 is similar to many bluegrass varieties when maintained under mowed turf conditions as the comparative test results show in Table 21.

                  TABLE 21                                                         ______________________________________                                         Comparison of Leaf Texture of Ba 72-500 and Other Bluegrasses                  Under Mowed Turf Conditions.                                                           St. Louis   Agassiz      Marysville                                    Variety Missouri    British Columbia                                                                            Ohio                                          ______________________________________                                         Ba 72-500                                                                              4.3         6.0          5.0                                           Adelphi 5.3                                                                    America 6.0                                                                    Baron   4.6                                                                    Birka   6.0                                                                    Bono    5.6         6.7                                                        Bristol 5.3         7.0          5.0                                           Fylking                          5.8                                           Geronimo            5.7                                                        Glade   6.0                                                                    Gnome   4.3                                                                    Kenblue                          5.5                                           Merion              6.3          5.0                                           Merit   4.3         5.0          5.0                                           Newport                          5.0                                           Park    6.0                                                                    Sydsport                                                                               5.0                      5.0                                           Touchdown                                                                              5.0                                                                    Vantage 6.0                      5.3                                           Victa   4.4                      4.8                                           LSD (.05)                                                                              0.7                      0.4                                           ______________________________________                                          Rating: 1-9, 9 = finest texture.                                         

Ba 72-500 has a good level of seed yielding ability which should make it an economically feasible variety to produce for commercial markets as shown in Table 22.

                  TABLE 22                                                         ______________________________________                                         Seed Yield Comparisons of Ba 72-500 and Other Bluegrass                        Varieties in Oregon                                                            Location Gervais           La Grande                                           Seeded   Year   Year         Year Year       Madras                            Harvest Year                                                                            1      2      Mean  1    2    Mean  Year 1                            ______________________________________                                         Variety                                                                        Ba 72-500                                                                               559     757   658    876  857  867  1113                              Victa    780    1394   1087  1419 1200 1310  1324                              Newport  435    1256   846                                                     Bristol  347     808   578   1089  970 1030                                    Mosa     322    1060   691                                                     Julia    296    1016   656                                                     Baron                                        1194                              Trampas                                       388                              LSD (.05)                                                                               140     134          149  181  220                                    ______________________________________                                          Rating: Pounds per acre of conditioned seed.                             

The low susceptibility of Ba 72-500 to rust and lodging under typical seed field conditions should aid in producing enconomical seed crops as indicated by the comparative results in Table 23.

                  TABLE 23                                                         ______________________________________                                         Plant Characteristics of Ba 72-500 and Other Bluegrass Varieties at            Gervais, Oregon Under Seed Production Conditions.                                               Lodging                                                               Rust       Year 1  Year 2                                              ______________________________________                                         Ba 72-500 1            2.5       0.2                                           Victa     2            2.0     0                                               Bristol   4            4.0     1                                               Newport   4            4.0     1                                               Mosa      4            2.0     0                                               Julia     4            5.0     4                                               ______________________________________                                          Ratings                                                                        Rust: 1-4, 4 = very susceptible                                                Lodging: 0-5, 5 = severe lodging                                          

What is claimed is:
 1. A variety of bluegrass plant, substantially as shown and described, characterized particularly by a high level of resistance to disease and especially leaf spot disease, a desirable green color throughout the growing season, a high quality persistent turf under a wide variety of environmental conditions including shady conditions and a good-to-medium level of seed yielding capacity. 